Positive Behavioral Support

Trauma-Informed Care

We understand that many vulnerable and neurodivergent children have experienced trauma, which can significantly shape their behavior. Our approach integrates a deep understanding of trauma's impact on the developing brain and nervous system. This means:

Safety and Trust: Creating a safe and predictable environment is paramount. We prioritize building trusting relationships with children and their families, recognizing that feeling secure is foundational for growth and change.

Sensitivity to Triggers: We are highly attuned to potential trauma triggers in the environment and interactions. Our assessments explore past experiences and their potential connection to current behaviors.

Regulation-Focused Strategies: We emphasize strategies that help children develop self-regulation skills, understanding that dysregulation can often be a response to past or present stressors.

Avoiding Re-traumatization: Our interventions are carefully designed to avoid practices that could inadvertently re-traumatize a child. We prioritize gentle, respectful, and collaborative approaches.

Clinical Approach

At Wonderful Mind our Approach to Behavioral Support is truly Child-Centered: Every child is unique, and their support should reflect that. Our child-centered philosophy means:

Individualized Assessment: We go beyond standardized assessments to understand each child's specific strengths, challenges, sensory preferences, communication style, and interests. We actively involve the child (to the best of their ability) and their family in this process.

Focus on Strengths: We believe in building upon a child's existing strengths and abilities. Identifying and celebrating successes, no matter how small, fosters confidence and motivation.

Respecting Autonomy: We strive to empower children to have a voice in their support plans, offering choices and fostering a sense of control whenever possible.

Developmentally Appropriate Practices: Our strategies are tailored to the child's developmental stage and neurodiversity, ensuring they are both understandable and effective.

Uncovering Triggers and Unmet Needs

We see challenging behaviors as valuable information, signaling that a child's needs are not being met or that they are reacting to a specific trigger. Our process involves:

Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs): Our clinicians are skilled in conducting thorough FBAs to identify the antecedents (what happens before the behavior), the behavior itself, and the consequences (what happens after). This 1 helps us understand the function or purpose of the behavior for the child.
Sensory Assessments: For neurodivergent children, sensory sensitivities can be significant triggers. We assess sensory processing patterns to identify potential sensory overload or seeking behaviors.

Communication Assessments: We explore a child's communication abilities, recognizing that frustration or unmet communication needs can lead to challenging behaviors.

Emotional Needs Exploration: We delve into a child's emotional landscape, identifying underlying feelings such as anxiety, fear, sadness, or anger that may be contributing to their behavior.

Collaborative and Multi-Modal Team

Our strength lies in the diverse expertise of our clinical team

Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives: Our team may include psychologists, behavior analysts, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, social workers, and counselors, each bringing a unique lens to understanding the child.

Shared Knowledge and Planning: Regular team meetings and collaborative case conceptualization ensure a comprehensive and integrated approach to assessment and intervention.

Varied Therapeutic Modalities: We utilize a range of evidence-based strategies, including play therapy, sensory integration techniques, communication supports, social skills training, and family therapy, tailoring our approach to the individual child's needs.

Comprehensive Assessments and Tailored Strategies

Our commitment is to move beyond surface-level interventions

In-depth Evaluations: Our assessments involve observations, interviews with families and caregivers, review of relevant records, and potentially standardized assessments when appropriate.

Individualized Support Plans: Based on the comprehensive assessment, we develop highly individualized PBS plans that outline specific strategies to address identified triggers and unmet needs.

Proactive Strategies: We focus on teaching replacement behaviors, modifying the environment to prevent triggers, and building skills to promote self-regulation and communication.

Reactive Strategies: We also develop clear and consistent strategies for responding to challenging behaviors in a way that prioritizes safety, teaches alternative responses, and minimizes escalation.

Empowering Children and Strengthening Family Connections

Our ultimate goal is to see children thrive:

Skill Building: We equip children with the skills they need to navigate social situations, communicate their needs effectively, and manage their emotions in healthy ways.

Increased Independence: As children develop new skills and feel more secure, they often experience greater independence and self-confidence.

Enhanced Family Relationships: By understanding the child's needs and providing consistent support, we aim to reduce family stress and foster stronger, more positive connections.

Integration and Inclusion: We work towards helping children feel more connected and included in their homes, schools, and communities.

In essence, at Wonderful Mind, Positive Behavioral Support is not just a set of techniques; it's a philosophy rooted in empathy, understanding, and a deep commitment to empowering vulnerable and neurodivergent children to lead fulfilling and connected lives.

Start Now